In situ sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy of electrochemical interfaces with surface plasmon resonance

Electrochemical (EC) reactions are crucial in many applications, yet most EC analytical tools lack the sensitivity to access molecular-level information of reactants and products. By combining sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance at EC interfaces, we demonstrate the feasibility of measuring in situ and real-time vibrational spectra during EC reactions at noble metal electrodes. Application of the technique to EC reactions at a gold surface helps in understanding how the surface in a basic solution is oxidized and reduced during a cyclic voltammetry cycle. Study of desorption of a thiol self-assembled monolayer from gold through EC reactions in a basic solution shows that the desorbed thiols by reductive reaction remain as an ordered layer near the gold interface, but do diffuse away if they are desorbed oxidatively from gold.